How to Find a Summer Job

The number of job opportunities for teenagers is hard to find due to a sluggish economy. According to the Census Bureau the unemployment rate among teens is 25% in 25 states and an average of 23.6% across the country. There is also competition from college students and older unemployed or underemployed Americans looking for work.

State, federal and local governments were a stable source of summer jobs for teenagers, but that has changed due to budget cuts throughout all levels of government. Teenagers with computer skills or a trade are able to find a job easier than those without.

If you are currently unemployed develop short and long term goals you want to achieve. Develop an action plan and target date to ensure that you achieve those goals. If you want to get employed you have to make opportunities happen. If lack of finances are a major factor in your life you will have to think outside of the box and think of creative ways to make money. Here are 12 tips to find a job:

1. Use social media and the internet to search for jobs
2. Contact youth organizations
3. Attend youth networking functions
4. Go to youth job training centers to gain skills that are in demand
5. Talk to your school counselor or former counselor to learn about possible job opportunities or job leads
6. Look for college internship opportunities
7. Consider outdoor jobs involving heavy labor or behind-the-scenes jobs
8. Offer to work evening and night shifts and to fill in for vacationing employees. Search for these types of positions during the hours they operate.
9. Sell your skills by starting on one block and going from business to business. Ask for an application and introduce yourself to build a relationship with the hiring manager.
10. Call parents and relatives to get information on job leads. Contact friends and other classmates, especially those who have been able to find jobs.
11. Wear your best outfit to interviews even if you are applying to do construction work. This ensures the focus is on you and your skills and not your hot pink lipstick, jeans, t-shirt and mohawk.
12. A company that did not hire you a couple of months ago might need more workers now due to the high turnover of seasonal employees.

Here are 11 tips to help you earn money.
1. Cleaning. Become a maid or janitor by cleaning houses or office buildings.
2. Dog walker. Walk dogs or offer to bathe dogs or cats.
3. Part-time. Look for part-time opportunities including those not in your field. Some companies hire part-time employees later on as full-time employees or offer benefits.
4. Volunteer. Offer to become a volunteer at a company that is in the same field or a similar field you want to work in. Some companies hire volunteers as permanent employees.
5. Babysitter. Offer to watch children during the week or on weekends when parents need to run errands or go for a night out.
6. Seasonal Work. Get hired during seasonal employment recruiting periods such as Christmas and during the summer.
7. Temp Agency. Sign up with 5-10 temporary or staffing agencies that find part-time or full-time temporary jobs. Some jobs are converted to permanent employment after 90 days.
8. Service Industry. If you have good customer service skills you can work as a customer service representative answering phone calls, serving as a hostess, waitress or receptionist.
9. Secret Shopper. You can become a secret shopper for a company or go shopping for elderly or sick individuals.
10. Sell Items. Sell new or unused items on eBay or Craigslist.
11. Network. Network with neighborhood workers to see if they need assistance with doing odd jobs such as lawn care, snow removal, tree removal, washing cars, etc.